Two years after calling it a day in the Ballpark neighborhood, Jeff Osaka is opening another version of his first Denver restaurant, Twelve, in a new location. The chef and restaurateur opens 12@Madison on Dec. 16, bringing the concept to the Congress Park neighborhood.
In the two years since Twelve closed, the chef/restaurateur opened two locations of Osaka Ramen (one has since shuttered); Sushi-Rama (with plans for more locations); and is part of the team behind the Denver Central Market.
Osaka said that bringing back Twelve rounds out his culinary lineup in a number of ways.
“Osaka Ramen and Sushi-Rama are my outlets to the food I grew up on, and there’s something comforting about that,” he said. “Twelve is the style of food that challenges me and is what my culinary foundation is built upon. I can explore the world rather than focus on just one country.”
The only major change to 12@Madison is that the menu will change seasonally rather than monthly. Osaka also built a larger support system with a bar manager, wine director and chef de cuisine, Ashley McBrady. “This time around, it’s more about my staff than myself,” he said.
12@Madison is located at 1160 Madison St. in Denver.
